As they set off together, Klarion let himself enjoy the simple rhythm of the walk. For once, there was no immediate threat looming over him. Just the steady sound of their steps on stone and a slight, comfortable breeze. With Valdre leading the way, it wasn’t long until the conversation turned to their experiences with their classes so far. To Klarion’s lack of surprise, his friends had quite a bit to say about Etiquette and Courtly Manners.

  Valdre sighed as they walked, rubbing a hand over his face. “I swear, if I have to sit through another class on the proper way to use a fork, I’ll lose what is left of my patience.”

  Redrek let out a short laugh. “You think that is bad? We took a break from fine dining to work on the proper ways to greet another noble beyond the walls of the Academy. I had to practice bowing for a full hour yesterday. Bow too shallow, it’s disrespectful. Bow too deep, it’s mockery. I swear, if my professor had her way, we’d spend a week on the proper angle for groveling before someone of higher rank. Which, for me, will be practically everyone!”

  Klarion couldn’t help the smile that came to his face at Redrek’s expression. While he sympathized with the hobgoblin scion, it was nice to know he wasn’t the only one of his friends having difficulties with that class.

  “If someone tries to embarrass me at a banquet over these stupid rules,” Redrek continued, ignoring Klarion’s expression, “I’ll just challenge them to a duel. Problem solved.”

  Klarion chuckled but shook his head. “I don’t like the class either, but it’s not useless.”

  While Valdre nodded in agreement, Redrek shot him a skeptical look. “You actually care about it?”

  “I wouldn’t say I enjoy it,” Klarion admitted. “But it’s still important.” He glanced at his hobgoblin friend. “You think the Empire is built on brute strength alone? Politics is just another battlefield. If you don’t know how to navigate court, you’re just waiting for someone more powerful than you to use your ignorance against you.”

  Redrek almost said something, then paused, frowning. “Damn it. I know you’re right, despite my wish that wasn’t the case. I guess I should actually put in more effort?”

  “Yes, that is what I think you should do. I’m not saying you have to like it, though,” Klarion said. “But if you continue to think it doesn’t matter, you’ll regret it the first time some noble plays you into a corner with nothing but words. Or for using the wrong spoon.”

  “The wrong spoon? I’m guessing there is a story behind that?” Valdre asked.

  “Just something my professor shared with the class after another scion was a bit too loud complaining about what we were learning,” Klarion said. “Apparently some noble used how a rival of his used the incorrect spoon at a banquet as an excuse to engage him in a duel. The result was the challenger’s victory, the death of his rival, and the ending of an entire House of nobility.”

  “All over a spoon?” Redrek said with an incredulous laugh. “That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard.”

  “Ridiculous?” Valdre shook his head. “From everything my father has said, that’s just court politics, Redrek. You better start paying attention. Or it will be someone else coming after you with a spoon.”

  They shared a long laugh at that, with even their bodyguards cracking a smile at the mental image of a dolled-up scion chasing after Redrek with a spoon.

  “Alright,” Redrek said after he finally got his breath back. “I suppose you’re right. Still, I’d rather be swinging a sword than memorizing the correct placement of a wine glass.”

  As their conversation drifted to other subjects, Klarion caught fragments of another discussion happening just behind him. Hatsune had fallen into step with Garran and Kael, the three bodyguards speaking in low tones. Klarion kept his attention on Valdre and Redrek, but his ears remained open to what was being said.

  “…nothing but words, so far,” Kael was saying, the words edged with frustration. “But it’s constant.”

  Garran let out a low grunt of his own. “Same on my end. A few members of the Ivory Banner have taken an increased interest in Valdre since the duel. It’s always the same—pointed comments, little remarks designed to get under his skin.”

  “They haven’t done anything else?” Hatsune asked.

  “Not yet,” Kael muttered. “We think they are testing our reactions. Seeing how much they can get away with.”

  Hatsune’s voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable steel beneath her words. “So long as they only talk, it’s not worth acting on. But if they try to take it further—”

  “They won’t, at least not for a while yet,” Garran said firmly. “Not after Klarion killed one of theirs in that duel. They are worried about what might happen if they push too hard. And they are likely waiting to learn about the outcome of the Noble’s Agreement with Scion Copperhand.”

  Kael exhaled. “That’s the only reason Redrek thinks they’re sticking to words. But they won’t forget. The Ivory Banner doesn’t let grudges die easily.”

  Klarion’s expression didn’t change, but as he continued walking with his friends, a slow, simmering irritation settled in his chest. So, the Ivory Banner was still waiting. Watching. Looking for another opening to strike out against his friends. He would have to ask Hatsune later if there had been anything else he had missed in their conversation. If his friends needed help, he would make sure to give it to them.

  The rest of the walk to the Expeditionary Hall was long—longer than Klarion had expected. The Imperial Academy was vast, structured in a way that made every part of it feel like its own miniature city. Must of it he hadn’t even been able to see yet. But even with that in mind, he hadn’t realized just how far the Expeditionary Hall was from Blacksword Manor. It sat practically on the opposite side of the campus, close to where the great walls of the institution met what Klarion now knew to be the city of Basion beyond.

  When they finally arrived in the open square that held their shared destination, it was like entering into an entirely different world. The Expeditionary Hall was a fortress in its own right. Unlike the regal marble of the Lecture Hall or the militaristic austerity of the Martial Hall, this place looked alive—as if it was a constantly shifting entity rather than a mere building. Its massive wooden doors stood open, scions and their bodyguards flooding in and out in a constant stream. Klarion barely had time to take it all in before the full force of the hall’s chaos hit him as they stepped inside.

  The interior of the Expeditionary Hall was a maelstrom of movement and noise. Long wooden counters lined the walls, where scribes and administrators barked orders, processed requests, and stamped official seals onto mission contracts before they were entered by hand in a central terminal of massive size against the fall wall. At the center of the hall stood a massive circle of smaller mission boards, each a screen providing access to the current list of missions the scribes and administrators had approved in hard copy to be added for the consideration of the scions of the Academy.

  Scions, bodyguards, and other servants crowded the space, calling out over one another as they negotiated the creation of groups for more difficult missions, others attempting to strike deals or form temporary alliances for a period of time. Klarion had seen videos of stock market trading floors back on Earth, and to him, there seemed to be a lot of similarity to what he was seeing in front of him now.

  A sharp laugh from Valdre barely cut through the noise as he clapped Klarion on the back. “Welcome to where the real work gets done.”

  Klarion turned to him, arching a brow. “This is madness.”

  Valdre grinned. “Of course it is. But it is also where the scions of nobility get the chance to begin proving themselves.”

  Klarion followed Valdre’s gaze as the elven noble gestured to the mission board, where scions impatiently waited for their own turns to get access to the terminals. Without another word, both of his fellow scions moved off in search of a shorter line to access a terminal. Both Garran and Vael moved close behind them, ready for trouble. For his part, Klarion couldn’t blame them. The chaos and sheer press of bodies was almost overwhelming, especially as the swirling maelstrom of movement and voices was tainted by what Klarion could only assume was the intangible presence of various Essences lingering in the massive room. The room was thick and oppressive in places, like the air just before a storm.

  After moving past the fourth area of such pressure, Klarion realized that was he was feeling was the presence of older scions. This wasn’t just a place for fresh Academy scions like him, Valdre, and Redrek. No. The missions of the Expeditionary Hall likely attracted everyone—not only the young scions looking to prove themselves but also the older, more seasoned scions who had been at the Academy for years, honing their strength, accumulating levels, and solidifying their foundations for what would come after they graduated.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Klarion slowly made his way through the crowd, taking in the sight of scions of all shapes and sizes. Some bore obvious signs of power, their armor or robes inscribed with glowing runes, their very presence seeming to radiate with the Essences they had unlocked. One towering figure, clad in blackened plate armor etched with pulsating crimson runes, moved with a predatory grace that belied his size. The air around him shimmered, distorting the light. His eyes, bright crimson visible through the slit of his helm, burned with an unholy intensity, and everyone that they landed on hurried out of his path without thinking.

  Others were more subtle, their strength lurking beneath controlled expressions and measured movements. One such was a gaunt figure in voluminous black robes with hands that ended in wickedly sharp, metallic claws, who stood motionless near one of the Mission Boards Klarion passed. His presence was a chilling stillness, a void in the bustling energy of the hall. The very air around him seemed to crackle with latent energy, a silent promise of devastating power held in check. His eyes, when they finally Klarion looking at him, shifted to stare into his own and they were like shards of ice. Thankfully, the figure’s attention soon returned to looking through missions without a word.

  For every individual that caught his attention, there were at least a handful more that were equally worthy of respect. From so many of them pressed in so clase, Klarion felt the weight of the power gathered in this one place, pressing against him like a physical force. Yet, despite the overwhelming strength present, the hall wasn’t a battlefield.

  The Sentinels saw to that.

  Once he found his place at the end of a shorter line than most, Klarion looked around to see that the guardians of the Academy were everywhere. Standing at key points, their presence ensured that the chaos did not spiral out of control. Much like with each of the ones he had met so far, their armor and featureless masks gave them an almost inhuman presence, especially as they stood motionless. They stood like watchful sentinels, hands resting on shock rods, eyes hidden from sight yet undeniably aware of everything happening. Their presence made it clear that the moment anyone crossed a line, the Sentinels would react. Brutally. Efficiently.

  Finally, it was Klarion’s turn to step toward the mission terminal. Up close revealed it to be a large, rune-inscribed device embedded into a wooden framework holding it in place. The screen glowed faintly as he placed his palm on it like he had seen other scions do, which apparently allowed the terminal to temporarily attune itself to him. A soft hum followed, and the interface shifted, awaiting his search parameters.

  With methodical precision, Klarion keyed in his criteria of materials he needed to find to use for the unlocking of his class, then further specified for combat missions to maximize the odds of his unlocking the Essences he wanted as well. The glow of the terminal flickered as the board refreshed, populating a list of available contracts.

  After scrolling through the few pages of options, three options eventually stood out to him:

  Expeditionary Mission - A Farmer’s Struggle

  The usually peaceful fields surrounding Donovan Farm have become a hunting ground for a ferocious Blaze Lion. Its fiery mane and powerful claws have terrified the livestock and put Farmer Donovan's livelihood at risk. He's desperate for aid and promises a fair split of the beast's valuable components to any capable adventurers who can rid him of this threat. Find him at his farm, a short trek west of the city walls.

  Conditions for Success: Kill or drive off the Blaze Lion menacing Farmer Donovan’s herd

  Rewards for Completion: Blaze Lion Heart; Blaze Lion Pelt

  Accept: Yes/No

  Expeditionary Mission - Culling the Barrow Lord

  Ten years ago, an ancient battlefield from some forgotten world was integrated into the pocket plane, and now its undead denizens threaten to overrun neighboring areas rich in valuable resources. Frequent cullings are required to keep the undead in check. The strongest of these is a Restless Barrow Lord, its power a dark echo of the planar rift, who must be vanquished as well. Venture into the corrupted zone of undeath, and stem the tide before it engulfs neighboring areas.

  Conditions for Success: Kill Restless Undead x 30; Kill Restless Barrow Lord x 1

  Rewards for Completion: Unknown; Relic: Blood-drenched Blade

  Accept: Yes/No

  Expeditionary Mission - The Dryad’s Tithe

  An Elder Dryad Grove requests an envoy from the Imperial Academy to come to collect their tithe of Essence crystals for services rendered in the past. In return for your service, the dryads offer three Essence crystals of your choosing, and the opportunity to tell stories to location-bound dryads within for other potential rewards.

  Conditions for Success: Deliver tithe of Essence crystals to Imperial Academy

  Rewards for Completion: Essence crystals (various) x 3

  Bonus Rewards: Unknown

  Accept: Yes/No

  Without hesitating, in part because he was worried someone else would select them before he could, Klarion indicated his acceptance of each of the three missions. As soon as he did so, a short pop-up confirmed his acceptance of each, and then a map appeared in his vision.

  Klarion's breath hitched in his throat.

  He'd hoped for a map, of course, or at least some sort of visual aid to guide him to where he and Hatsune would need to go. But what materialized before him was... colossal. A shimmering, holographic projection unfolded across his vision. It wasn't just a map; it was a vista of what he assumed to be the entire pocket plane, or perhaps just the largest fragment of it, given that the edges appeared cracked in some areas for some reason.

  Bastion, the fortress city he had yet to see, which he had been told was vast and imposing in size, was reduced to a mere pinpoint at the map's center. The Imperial Academy, his entire world for the past few weeks, was in turn an almost invisible speck within that pinpoint. It was a humbling, almost terrifying, perspective shift. The scale was dizzying.

  Doing his best to set the scale aside, he looked over the map to find the markers of the three missions he had accepted, each of which was a glowing rune pulsating with a soft light. They were spread out, yes, but even so they were all to the west and within a short distance of the dot that was Bastion. But even that total distance between the four points looked to be a journey of at least several days. Now having seen the map of the pocket plane, it was starting to make a bit more sense to him why there had been relatively few older scions on campus that he had come across. With missions from the Expeditionary Hall being apparently so important for power and wealth, it was more than likely that many of the older students at the Academy were either in class or exploring beyond the walls of Bastion.

  He looked over the general area of the three missions he had taken in search of a bit more detail. As he mentally zoomed in, he was able to make out that there were vague markings of what he assumed to be hills, several distinct forests, and, next to the battlefield where he would have to fight the undead, a small marking that indicated some sort of settlement. Closer to Bastion itself were also some markings for farmland, with the farm he needed to go to somewhere in the middle of one part. From there, the next mission he would want to complete was hunting the undead, as the ancient battlefield that held the Barrow Lord’s domain was the next closest dot on the map. Last was the mark for the Elder Dryad’s Grove, which was a bit further out and right on the edge of a densely forested area. If Klarion followed that route with Hatsune, they’d be able to hit everything and then loop back to return to Bastion and the Imperial Academy directly.

  Decisions made, Klarion mentally closed the map of the pocket plane. Looking around, he saw that Redrek and Valdre were standing back near the entrance, having finished looking through the missions themselves, their bodyguards standing beside them. Motioning to Hatsune, who had been hovering nearby, he went in the direction of his friends.

  “I’ve taken three missions,” he half-shouted to Hatsune as he leaned in close as they walked. “First, we're hunting a Blaze Lion that’s been terrorizing farmland to the east. Then, we move on to culling a Barrow Lord and clearing out undead in an old battlefield. After all that, we’ll head to an Elder Dryad Grove to collect a tithe of Essence crystals to the Academy and return from there.”

  Hatsune’s long silver-tipped ears shifted slightly at his words, absorbing the information. When she didn’t respond at first, Klarion glanced over at her to see her eyes were fixed on the middle distance. Apparently she had access to the missions he had taken and was looking over the map while he had talked, as she said, “That’s a good route. Efficient. And… coincidentally, those missions work well for me, too.”

  “Oh?” Klarion could have kicked himself. He had completely forgotten to check with Hatsune as to what she needed to unlock her own class. He’d been too focused on pursuing his own needs for the Valiant Sunlord.

  The Leporine nodded. “The battlefield and the dryad grove—both places have what I need for my class. The first will have some Wraithsteel, which can only be harvested from the weapons of certain undead, and some specific Essence crystals, which I’ll be able to find at the Dryad’s grove when we get there.”

  “That’s good. Was there anything else you needed to unlock the Yamabushi Shadowblade class?”

  “No, but it’s nice of you to ask,” Hatsune said, and for a moment he wondered if she had missed his lapse in checking with her, only for his hopes to be dashed with her next words. “Especially since you hadn’t thought to check before accepting those missions.”

  “Yeah…sorry about that,” he said a little sheepishly.

  “It’s fine, I already know how you can make it up to me,” she said in a light teasing tone. They were almost to the others, so her next words practically tumbled one after the other out of her mouth, “You can do all the cooking for both of us until we return to the manor. Deal?”

  “Deal,” he hurriedly agreed just as they arrived where his friends had been standing. He enjoyed cooking, and if it helped make up for his lapse with Hatsune, he was happy to do it.

  Valdre turned away from where he had been talking with Garran. “Found what you needed?”

  “Yes,” Klarion nodded. “We are going to leave immediately. The longer we wait, the more I’ll risk running out of time, especially if the Essences prove harder to unlock than I hope.”

  “Probably for the best, even though it would be nice to have one more meal at The Hearth & Ember before you both set out,” Redrek extended his clawed hand. “Well, don’t get yourself killed, yeah?”

  Klarion snorted, then grabbed the hobgoblin’s offered hand. “That is the plan. We’ll celebrate at The Hearth & Ember after we return and unlock our classes.

  Valdre laughed, then extended his own hand as Klarion released the hobgobin’s. “Somehow, I have no doubt that is exactly how things will happen. Hopefully, we both will have good news for you about our own progress as well.”

  Klarion offered a brief nod as he shook the half-frost elf’s hand. He didn’t ask what missions they had taken—if they had wanted him involved when he got back, they would have said so. Garran and Kael offered their own well-wishes then, and after that, his friends left the Expeditionary Hall, going off to whatever they needed to do next.

  “Alright,” Klarion said, turning back to Hatsune. “Let’s get going. I want to see what Bastion is like while we still have some light.”

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